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This paper is accepted for the Proceedings of the Canadian International Petroleum Conference/SPE Gas Technology Symposium
2008 Joint Conference (the Petroleum Society’s 59th Annual Technical Meeting), Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 17-19 June 2008. This
paper will be considered for publication in Petroleum Society journals. Publication rights are reserved. This is a pre-print and
subject to correction.
Abstract Introduction
PEMEX Exploración & Producción (PEMEX E&P) is running PEMEX E&P in Mexico has been conformed for four
a key development plan to improve the reservoir management, productions Regions including the South, the North, and the
well productivity and ultimate recovery of all fields in Mexico. Offshore Regions the Northeast, and the Southwest.
A fundamental part of this project is gathering reliable well Flowstream in each well is tested to surveillance well and
production data on real time and on regular basics. PEMEX reservoir performance providing data for field allocation and
E&P performed a full study of available technologies in well reservoir management practices (1).
testing to select a system that meet the needs of the region while As part of the strategy program to improve reservoir
simplifying the field logistic and minimizing environmental management, PEMEX E&P has implemented the use of MPFM
impact. PEMEX E&P selected the use of multiphase flow technology. MPFM technology was chosen in order to increase
meters (MPFM). The program scope includes 8,064 the measurement frequency in several wells, eliminate the need
to flare or recompress depressurized fluids.
measurements at well heads and collection manifolds during
The reduced crew size, small footprint, and practically
three years. The preparation and use of this MPFM program
elimination of flaring makes this technology an attractive
for multi-rate well tests was carried out with variable gas-liquid
alternative for testing on unmanned facilities, in
ratio flowstream and systems capable to measure all types of environmentally sensitive areas and when constraints space are
flow regimes in fields producing from heavy oil to gas prohibitory(i.e. Cantarell and Macuspana assets).
condensates. This paper describes the lessons learned about the Multiphase technology has allowed automating and
practical simplifying the operations required to wellflow measurement
reliability, accuracy, and operability of the MPFM meters. The and minimizing production deferral.
paper illustrates with field results the benefits of implementing MPFM technology in PEMEX E&P has proven to be a very
the multiphase metering in PEMEX E&P. MPFM meters have cost-effective and attractive solution to test the well production.
proved to be a reliable system to measure and improve well This paper details the preparation and temporary
productivity. deployment of MPFM technology for a series of multi-rate well
tests have carried out on low and high gas-liquid ratio (GLR)
1
production wells into the five production assets of the South A multiphase meter at the wellhead will also allow improved
Region of PEMEX E&P. These assets are Bellota-Jujo, Cinco- well and reservoir control. For remote and deep subsea
Presidentes, Macuspana, Muspac, and Samaria–Luna as shown wellhead completions the savings and operational benefits
in Fig. 1. offered by this technology are quite extensive.
The producer reservoirs of those five assets consist of Reservoir well management practices(1) can be significantly
Tertiary sandstones and Cretaceous carbonates which are improved by monitoring well performance through the increase
naturally fractured rocks. The fields store all types of petroleum of well testing. Multiphase meters can be used to increase the
fluids that include dry gas, wet gas, condensate of gas, volatile measurement frequency in the producer wells rather tan
oil, and black oil, with densities ranging from very heavy oils conventional facilities of testing (line, separator and tank).
from 10 oAPI to superior quality oils up to 60 oAPI. However, Performing more frequent well tests help to ensure
97% of the overall oil production in the region is light with economical and technical success. Key factors are maximising
densities greater than 30 oAPI. hydrocarbons recovery, through planning the primary,
Region operational experiences and data from several secondary and enhanced recovery field development and
wellstream testing with mobile compact multiphase flow meters production forecasts.
are described. Fig. 2 shows a typical mobile MPFM meter used
in onshore assets. Characteristics of MPFM technology
The advantages of implementing MPFM metering as well
as recommendations for future applications are described. PEMEX E&P is using multiphase meters technology to test
Particular challenges and solutions for multiphase meters used the well productivity in several production assets. The MPFM
on some wells in the region also are described. technology represents the latest multiphase flow meters
generation produced in Norway(2,3).
The multiphase flow meter measures oil, gas and water rates
MPFM technology: applications and without separation of the production wellstream, and calculates
flow rates for actual and standard conditions of pressure and
characteristics temperature.
Design features in MPFM technology has provided accurate
measurement of oil, water and gas rates in all the different flow
Applications of multiphase technology regimes and type of wells in the region.
MPFM meters have used for wide array of different MPFM meters are equipped with a series of routine
applications around the world. However, just until the last operations such as well testing, self-check diagnostics,
decade, the use and applicability of multiphase meters has been calibration, repeatability and comparative production tests. All
breaking the market and gain a position as an alternative data is transmitting in real time to PEMEX E&P field
technology to conventional well testing. For offshore platforms, production offices where data is analyzed and integrated by a
the applicability of MPFM meters has been more team of production engineers.
widespread(2,3).
In PEMEX E&P the use of MPFM technology began in 1997 Fraction measurement
on an offshore facility and since then MPFM has been used in
several offshore, onshore and wetland activities. Table 1 The multiphase meters that are used in PEMEX E&P have
presents a list of projects in which the technology has been five main components: inductance sensor, gamma densitometer,
used. venture, capacitance sensor, and pressure and temperature
Multiphase meters are used for portable well testing onshore sensors (Fig. 3).
as well as offshore, and is gradually gaining acceptance in PEP MPFM meters determine oil, gas and water from the
as a fully qualified alternative to traditional portable separator capacitance, inductance readings and gamma densitometer
and tank tests obtaining savings in operational and indirect measuring. Mass and velocity for each phase are determined
costs. The most traditional application in PEP has been is from either venturi or cross correlation.
mobile portable well testing units where the MPFM meters Two capacitance (oil phase continuous) or conductance
minimize the rig up and rig down time while minimizing (water phase continuous) sensors are used to determine the
production deferral comparator to traditional measurements fractions of oil, gas and water phases. The water to liquid ratio
methods(4,5). (WLR) and GVF are determined as a function of these fractions.
Another important applications area is installations at The capacitance and conductance sensors register data at a
unmanned or minimum facilities(6). In contrast to test very high frequency (i.e., 3,000 measurements per second on
separators, the use of portable MPFM enables unmanned or each sensor), having detailed analysis of individual flowstream
remote operation the whole well testing process(7,8). conditions, including bubbles pattern and water droplets.
For example, a single well in a small reservoir, multiphase During the presence of a liquid slug in short time, WLR can be
meter can monitor the well continuously, and be used for determined with the same accuracy at high GVF as for low
allocation metering. Low power consumption, as well as weight GVF. The technique enables accurate oil and water even under
and size savings is also important issues for these types of very high GVF values.
installations. Measurement low rates are determined on a cross-correlation
The improvements in modelling and data analysis allow or ventury system.
extending the operating range in order to measure liquid (oil Dual velocity method can be explained as a two-phase
and water cut) even at GVF up to 99%. This makes the meter mixture in terms of velocity phases where a pseudo-
even more attractive for using it in low pressure and artificial homogeneous mixture of oil, water and small gas bubbles; and a
gas lift wells methods in wells. free phase consisting of larger gas bubbles are travelling with a
Additional well measurement information can also provide velocity significantly higher than that of the dispersed phase(3).
valuable information about the well behaviour. The information This dual velocity procedure measures the two most
allows knowing if the flowstream is affected by flow regime, predominant velocities in the multiphase velocity distribution,
slug pattern, emulsions and paraffin deposition, among others. the velocity of the dispersed liquid phase, and the velocity of
gas bubbles. By combining these velocities with the fractions of
2
dispersed phase and large bubbles, flow rates of oil, gas and MPFM and WetGas meters data collection
water can be estimated. However, this procedure is restricted to
vertical upwards flow. The multiphase meter data logger has a large information
storage capacity that is able of receiving sensor signals every
second and storing running averages. Data logger information
is sending on real time via satellite to the exploitation assets and
MPFM technology implemented in to the main office of PEMEX E&P in the South Region as
PEMEX E&P shown in Fig. 7.
Data logger information is downloaded to a PC and
presented to be analyzed. Recorder data parameters consist of
Use of multiphase technology in PEMEX operating pressure, temperature, oil, water, and gas rates in
E&P actual and standard conditions.
Actual operation conditions imply the flowstream pressure
As mentioned before in PEMEX E&P the use of MPFM
and temperature measured with the MPFM meter.
technology began in 1997. Table 1 shows the background and
Fig. 8 displays a chart designed to observe the data logger
actual status concerning the use of multiphase technology in
behavior registered through a production test.
PEP among offshore, onshore, and wetland activities.
The upper plot shows the liquid, oil, and gas volumes, water
cut, and MPFM pressure behaviors as a function of time for
Actual temporary MPFM program in the actual conditions. The first and third tables to the right of upper
South Region of PEMEX E&P plot of Fig. 8 shows the instantaneous and average flow rates
The implementation of MPFM technology has been achieved accumulated of oil, gas, and water as well as instantaneous and
in the South Region of PEP by contracting a service company average water cut. One of them is presented at actual conditions
since March 2006. Table 2 shows the background and actual (first table) and the second one at standard conditions (third
status concerning the use of multiphase technology in this table).
region. The second table shows the instantaneous temperature and
The use of MPFM meters in the region does not incur any pressure. The lowest table shows the well inlet information.
additional risk to personnel and the field operations can be Similarly, the lower plot in Fig. 8 shows the liquid, oil, and
carried out safely if adequate management techniques and gas volumes, water cut, and MPFM pressure behavior as a
practices are used. function of time for transforming the actual conditions
The technical preparation and use of this multiphase service measurements to standard conditions of pressure and
contract for multi-rate well tests was carried out with variable temperature.
gas-liquid ratio (GLR) flowstream. In the meters were
incorporated specific design features to permit accurate
measurement of liquid rates in high GVF. Study cases
Each MPFM unit to be used in the South Region was
The actual service contract has been applied since June 2006
specifically designed and selected to cover the flowrates
and covers the producer wells in the five exploitation assets in
handled in specific wells and facilities obtaining the operational
the South Region. After an extensive fifteen-month multiphase
window of application, considering all kind of reservoir fluids
production tests a total of at least 200 wells have been used
(compositional and conventional PVT, and gas
under varying operating conditions and produced fluids.
chromatography), pressure and temperature flowstream
Similarly, a WetGas meter has been transporting on a flat-
conditions. For example, Fig. 4 shows the operational window
bottomed boat to some wetland fields (i.e., Narvaez field in
plot for choosing the right meter in some wells at Samaria-Luna
Macuspana asset), so that individual wells are tested in the
asset. Due to space limitations other operational windows are
collector wells as an alternative of traditional portable test
not presented in this paper. As a consequence, to cover the
methods obtaining savings in operational and indirect costs.
flowrates handled in specific wells the service contract
For these trial tests, the total liquid rate ranged from 500 to
considers several mobile autonomous measurement units.
8,000 barrels per day, the GOR ranged from 80 to 1,350 scf/scf
Fig. 5 shows different meters to be used as a function of
and the water cut ranged from 0 to 90%.
GVF. For example, the first three MPFM meters from the left to
the right can be used from 0 to 98% of GVF in black and
volatile oils. The first two are used in onshore, wetland, and Measurement uncertainties
offshore activities; the third one is permanently used at the sea The actual service contract has been established to allow
floor bottom in offshore activities. The four and fifth are volume measurement errors of ±7% for gas phase, and ±5% for
WetGas meters and are used for GVF values greater than 98%. oil and water phases, respectively, as mentioned before.
For volatile oils, condensate of gas and wet gas fluid reservoirs In some cases, conventional measurement using the
a WetGas meter can be used. separator and tank test is used as a reference to compare MPFM
The program scope included 8,064 measurements in 3-year data. Only those tests that fell within the multiphase meter
to be performed at several individual well collection manifolds operating ranges and having valid test results are approved by
located in the five integrated production assets of the South PEMEX E&P and taken into account for the MPFM evaluation.
Region of PEMEX E&P. In order to warranty the accuracy of the MPFM data, well
The South Region by using this current service contract has production data is simultaneously collected from the multiphase
obtained at least 1,500 approved measurement tests from July meter in series with the test separator in an array similar as
2006 to December 2007. These measurements had accepted by shown in Fig. 6.
PEMEX`s supervisors according with the percentage error Table 3 shows an example of MPFM measurements errors
established in the contract for each phase (±7% for gas, ±5% for for gas, oil, and water phases obtained from comparative testing
oil and ±5% for water). in all service contracts with MPFM meters. Table 3 presents
results of over 2,500 wells test performed. All results have been
3
within range with errors ranging from +7 to -2% for gas phase, 0.65% for oil, water cut, and gas, respectively. In conclusion,
and +7 to -4% for oil phase, and ±5% for water phase. these repeatability and comparative tests were approved and
The current MPFM technology service contracted has taken accepted for this well.
at least 1,500 measurement tests from July 2006 to December
2007. Current results show errors from -3 to +5% for gas Wellstream behavior cases
phase, and -7 to +3% for oil and -2 to +4% water phases. In
resume, the approved measurements with the actual service The actual service contract has been established to allow
contract have shown that over 90% of the comparative volume measurement errors of ±7% for gas phase, and ±5% for
measurements tested were within ±5% for all liquid, oil and oil and water phases, respectively, as mentioned before.
water cut measurements. While gas measurements were
determined to be within ±4% in 85% of the wells tested. Puerto Ceiba 125 well
The well production is coming from a black oil reservoir that
Repeatability tests examples is located in Bellota-Jujo asset. On September 26 of 2006 a
multiphase unit was installed in the pipe test in the manifold
In some wells series of repeatability tests have taken as
facility with an array similar to the sketch of Fig. 6.
shown in the following example. In February 11 of 2007 three
Later, the well flowstream was passed through the
repeatability tests with a MPFM meter were carried out in
multiphase meter to begin the well production test. Fig. 9
Puerto Ceiba 113B well (located in Bellota-Jujo asset). These
displays the behavior of each phase and the MPFM pressure
tests were carried out with the same choke size with two-hour
obtained after three-hour of test. The wellstream behaved very
period each. The results are shown in Table 4. The average
stable flow obtaining in average 4,800 STB/D of oil and 3.4
repetitive measurement calculated are 1,616 STB/D for oil, 1.2
MMscf/D of gas rate. A 10% of water cut was calculated.
MMscf/D for gas, and 4,065 STB/D for water with water cut of
MPFM pressures were registered as 30.5 kg/cm2 in average.
71.6%.
The flowstream always behaved stabilized and the production
The comparison between test 1 and test 2 shows errors of
test was finished. Operational surface movements were not
0.7, -0.2, and -1.68% for oil, water cut, and gas, respectively.
done. In resume, after analyzing the history data and the
MPFM meters have shown a repeatability of 1% o better in the
multiphase production test obtained for this well the test was
test performed.
accepted and a new production test was programmed in the
short time to increase the well measurement frequency.
Repeatability and comparative tests
examples Shishito 11 well
In others wells series of repeatability and comparative tests This well produces black oil and is located in Macuspana
have taken as discussed in the following examples. \ asset. In March 29 of 2007 a multiphase meter was installed in
In June 23 of 2007 two repeatability and comparative tests the manifold facility. The wellhead producing pressure was 48
were done in the well Shishito 2 located in Macuspana asset kg/cm2, with an average temperature of 46 oC.
with an array similar as shown in Fig. 6. The results are shown Fig. 10 shows four-hour production test through 18/64”
in Table 5. choke. Behaviors of gas rate (lower line), oil rate (intermediate
The well was connected to the test line in a well manifold line) as well as MPFM pressure (highest line) are displayed.
and the flowstream was passed through a MPFM meter. After The well was not producing water. In the first two hours the
the flowstream was stabilized, two production repeatability tests well produced in average 984 STB/D of oil and 0.236 MMscf/D
with one-hour duration were taken. Average MPFM results of gas, with a 43 scf/scf of GOR and 44 kg/cm2 of MPFM
reported from these tests were 657 STB/D of oil, 23% of water pressure. Later, due that oil and gas production had increasing
cut and 0.30 MMscf/D of gas. two-hour additional measurement was required in order to reach
Later, the flowstream was passed through a conventional stabilized flowrates of 2,000 STB/D of oil and 0.5 MMScf/D
measurement portable system including a test separator and a reducing the MPFM pressure at 39 kg/cm2. After that, the
test storage tank. Liquids and gas were separated to obtain oil flowstream stabilized and the production test was finished.
volume in tank conditions, water cut was determined from tank Operational surface movements were not done.
samples and gas volume from orifice plate. After three-hour In resume, the production behavior detected in this well
conventional test 652 STB/D of oil, 20% of water cut, and 0.31 demonstrates the importance of monitoring and updating fluid
MMscf/D of gas were obtaining. characteristics in order to know the actual oil, and gas
In resume, comparison among the phases are shown in the production as well as the water cut. The flowstream behavior
lower part of Table 5 calculating 0.8% , 3%, and -3.3% of could tell that some phenomena is happening in the well and/or
deviation for oil, water cut and gas, respectively. Finally, these reservoir. However, this behavior can not be detected in a
tests were approved and accepted for this well. conventional test.
A comparative test results between the historical production
data and the well test data registered on February 10 of 2007 in Puerto Ceiba 119 well
Puerto Ceiba 103D well (located in Bellota-Jujo asset) is shown
in Table 6. This well produces black oil in Bellota-Jujo asset. On
Three repeatability well tests with a MPFM meter were September 12 of 2006 a MPFM meter was installed in the test
carried out with the same choke size in two-hour period each. line located in the well manifold. Later, the well flowstream
The average measurement calculated are 1,166 STB/D for oil, was passed through the multiphase meter to begin the
0.81 MMscf/D for gas, and 996 STB/D for water calculating production test. Fig. 11 shows the behavior of each phase and
water cut of 46.1%. the MPFM pressure obtained after three-hour of test.
Historical production data from this well behaved with The well produced in average 800 STB/D of instable oil flow
average values of 1,158 STB/D for oil, 0.82 MMscf/D for gas, confirmed for gas rate behavior reaching peaks up 1.5
and 45.6% for water cut. MMscf/D. Similarly, instable behavior of water cut was
The comparison between average MPFM repeatability tests observed. MPFM pressures were registered as 28 kg/cm2 in
and historical production data show errors of 0.7, 0.5, and - average. The flowstream never stabilized and the production
4
test was finished. Operational surface movements were not Based on the demand for changing operational envelope
done. Later, after analyzing the history data and the multiphase after installation, now a venturi section with replaceable
production test obtained for this well, a clean treatment was internals can be supplied. If a well proves to produce at flow
recommended due to paraffin deposited in the tubing and rates that considerably deviate from what is anticipated, the
wellbore. venture insert can be replaced with a new insert with a different
The well was treated and opened to production on September ratio allowing simple adjustment to cover a new range of flow
14 of 2006. A MPFM meter was connected to the test line in the conditions.
manifold and a new production test was carried out as shown in The generation of multiphase meter used actually in the
Fig. 12. As a result, oil production was significantly improved South Region has a high degree of intelligence built into the
obtaining oil rate up to 2,200 STB/D. In resume, this example software. For diagnostics purposes, any process alarms and
clearly shows the use of MPFM technology as a key factor technical alarms will clearly be reported if anything should
success to take immediate decisions in producing wells. happen. A one-button diagnostics function can be activated
which automatically collects all relevant information, which can
Gaucho 1 well be sent to operator specialist for analysis.
The ease and speed of deployment and hook-up
This well is producing through artificial gas lift system. The
demonstrates that such equipment can provide well performance
production is coming from a black oil reservoir where actual
data either similar or better to that collected by a conventional
reservoir pressure is lower than bubble pressure having more
temporary well test facility.
than 50% of carbon dioxide in the producing gas. The well is
Cumulative well performance curves generated in the South
located in Muspac asset.
Region from the data collected are shown, in general,
In December 4 of 2006 a multiphase meter was installed in
acceptable correlation with production conventional tests data
the manifold facility and a production well test was carried out.
supporting previous conclusions regarding the accuracy of
The wellstream behavior was very instable as shown in Fig. 13.
MPFM’s. The maintenance of this accuracy in the difficult high
The information shows a typical wellstream behavior with slug
GVF flow regime vindicates the use of the particular equipment
flow where the oil and gas rate abruptly rising and decreasing.
model and design chosen.
Oil rate (lower line), water rate (intermediate line), and gas rate
(upper line) behaved totally instable. MPFM pressure behaved
more stable. Because the test was monitoring in real time it was Some limitations of Multiphase meters
necessary to take data for six hours but flowstream stabilization The main limitation detected in MPFM meter is the ability to
was not detected. The average rates were estimated as 900 measure extremely small fractions of any phase with a high
STB/D of oil and 1.7 MMScf/D of gas, with at least 25% cut relative uncertainty.
water. Operational surface movements and size choke were not It is quite obvious that when the amount of water approaches
done. zero, the relative uncertainty of the water flow rate becomes
The production behavior detected in this well demonstrates very high.
the importance of flowstream monitoring in real time in order to Similarly at high GVF and increasing water cuts, the relative
detect the problems that cause instability in the well such as gas uncertainty of oil becomes increasingly high. This is the major
injection and liquid holding in the tubing. limiting factor for inline multiphase meters, and has to be
Multiphase flowmeters can test wells that previously were considered. However, a WetGas meter can be recommended.
either difficult or for practical purposes impossible to test. In Similarly, PVT reliable data from the flowstream is a key
addition, to slug and liquid holding behaviors, multiphase factor to obtain accepted well tests.
flowmeters can measure flows consisting of emulsions and Normally, static calibration is frequently required in the
foams. meters in order to obtain accurately measurements,
With a producing test using conventional separator and tank
this behavior could not be detected because response time is too
slow. This well test was not accepted as a conclusion. A Conclusions
dynamic understanding in the well-reservoir is carried out in 1. PEMEX E&P has implemented the use of multiphase
order to explain this wellstream behavior. flow measurement through a service contract.
Technology advancement has allowed to all the
Learned lessons: key factors for success production assets to automate and simplify the
operations required to measure well flowstream.
A good understanding, proper planning, and good multiphase
2. The program scope includes 8,064 measurements in
equipment are important factors for success in measurement.
3-year to be performed at several wells manifolds
The meter sizing selection has to be done at an early stage.
located in the five integrated production assets of the
All kind of metering equipment has a given difference between
South Region of PEMEX E&P.
the lowest and the highest wellstream rate passing through the
3. By using this current service contract has obtained at
multiphase meter. At this stage, it varies widely how much
least 1,500 approved measurement tests from July
information on production rate is available. The better the
2006 to December 2007. These measurements had
information on the expected flow rates, the better the quality of
accepted by PEMEX E&P supervisors according
the resulting measurements. There are many examples of under-
with the phases percentage error established.
sized as well as ever-sized meters.
4. The use of multiphase flow meters in PEMEX E&P,
In extreme cases where the difference between the lowest
through a turnkey well testing service, demonstrates
and the highest well flow rate through the meter is too large for
to be a successful option for well testing operations.
one single multiphase meter, another solution is to install two
5. The portable multiphase flow meters allow the
meters.
measurement of oil, gas and water produced from
Too low production rates through the meter will result in
wells in production facilities where it is not feasible
increased uncertainty in the measurements while too high
to use conventional systems, because the lack of
production rates cause very high velocities and pressure losses.
infrastructure and auxiliary services, or in production
5
facilities with few wells, where the investment in REFERENCES
fixed installations are not justified.
6. MPFM and WetGas meters are an attractive 1. SATTER, A. and THAKUR, G., Integrated
technology for production testing in environmentally Petroleum Reservoir Management: A Team
sensitive areas and where constraints spaces are Approach; PennWell Books, Tulsa, OK (1994)
prohibitive. 335.
7. Multiphase metering offers a method of eliminating 2. HUSSAIN, S., AL-GHAMDI, S. and WARREN,
faring emissions from production testing operations P.B., Operational Experience in Offshore Testing a
without adding significant cost. Fluenta Multiphase Flow Meter; Saudi Aramco
8. It was possible to confirm meter accuracy from Journal of Technology (Fall 2001) 24-28.
comparisons with conventional test facilities on 3. CAETANO, E., PINHEIRO, J.A., BARREIRO
particular filed operations. Nevertheless no DA COSTA E SILVA, C., KUCHPIL, C. and
anomalies were identified and the meter appears to DYKESTEEN, E., Operational Experience with
have delivered accuracy at least as good as that Subsea Multiphase Flow Meter; paper presented
normally expected from mobile testing equipment. at the 18th North Sea Flow Measurement
9. Multiphase metering is a cost effective option to be Workshop, 2000.
considered in many applications where periodic well 4. FALCONE, G., HEWITT, G.F., ALIMONTI, C.
performance data is considered insufficient. and HARRISON, B., Multiphase Flow Metering:
10. Multiphase meters can test wells that previously were Current Trends and Future Developments; paper
either difficult or for practical purposes impossible to SPE 71474 presented at the 2001 SPE Annual
test. MPFM meters can measure wellflows consisting Technical Conference and Exhibition, New
of slugs, emulsions and foams where conventional Orleans, LO, Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
tests could not able to detect this behavior because 5. COUPUT, J.P., PROUVOST, H., COQUIL, M.,
response time is too slow. LEPORCHER, E. and DYKESTEEN, E.,
11. One of the main challenges into the South Region Implementation of Multiphase Metering on
assets was to build confidence in the measurements, Unmanned Wellhead Platform; paper OTC 13220
as well as the use of this MPFM technology as an presented at the 2001 Offshore Technology
alternative of conventional measurements methods. Conference, Houston, TX, April 30-May 3.
12. Multiphase meters provide production and reservoir 6. LEESON, T.J., HEERING, J. and OONK, A.,
specialists with the data required to understand and Temporary Deployment of Multiphase Flow
optimize well performance without separating a Measurement to Provide Well Performance: A
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PEMEX E&P is an essential step in reservoir TX, Apr. 30-May 3.
management where the applied practices can be 7. HASEBE, B., HALL, A., SMITH, B., BRADY, J.
significantly improved by monitoring well and MEHDIZADEH, P., Field Qualification of
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8. FRANTZEN, K., BRANT, M. and OLSVIK, K.,
Acknowledgements Multiphase Meters-Operational Experience in the
We would like to thank all those people associated with this Asia-Pacific; paper SPE 80502 presented at the
project that have made it a success. In addition, we would like 2003 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference
to thank PEMEX E&P for its support and permission to present and Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia, April 15-17.
this paper.
SI Metric Conversion Factors
NOMENCLATURE 2
acre x 4.046 873 E+03 =m
WLR = Water to Liquid Ratio (0-100%) bbl x 1.589 873 E-01 =m
3
3
GOC = Gas-Oil Contact [ft] cu ft x 2.831 685 E-02 =m
GOR = Gas-Oil Ratio [ft3/ft3] md x 9.869 233 E-04 = μm
2
*Conversion factor is
WOC = Water-Oil Contact [ft] R x 5/9
exact. =K
WOR = Water-Oil Ratio [ft3/ft3]
WLR = Water to Liquid Ratio (0-100%)
Subscripts
i = initial conditions
6
Years Service Status
1997-1999 MPFM measurement service contract with mobile units 1,656 production tests were taken.
used in Bellota-Jujo asset (before Comalcalco district).
1998 Two MPFM meters were acquired for Pol-TF and Pol-C MPFM meters are operating.
offshore production platforms in the Southwest Offshore
Region.
2001-2003 MPFM measurements service contract with mobile units 730 measurement tests were taken.
used in Samaria-Luna asset (before Luna asset).
2003 Five MPFM were acquired to be used in diverse satellite MPFM meters were instalated and
offshore platforms in the Litoral de Tabasco asset. comissioned to be approved for the
2005 One MPFM meter was acquired to be used in diverse contractor.
satellite offshore platforms in the Litoral de Tabasco
asset. MPFM meter operation trainning was contracted.
2005-March MPFM service contract with mobile units used in 1,731 approved measurements tests
2007 Samaria-Luna asset. were taken.
2006-2008 A South Region service contract with mobile MPFM and Service contract is operating.
WetGas units is in progress to be used in the five
production assets.
Table 2. The South Region of PEMEX E&P has used Table 3. MPFM technology maximum errors obtained in
MPFM since 1997 as a service contract. oil and gas phases and water cut measurements for both
old and actual service contracts.
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Multiphase meter (repeatability test)
Date Choke Qo Qw Qg GOR Water cut
(STB/D) (STB/D) (MMscf/D) (scf/scf) (%)
Test 1 11-Feb-07 5/8" 1,606 4095 1.19 132 71.8
Test 2 11-Feb-07 5/8" 1,594 4021 1.17 131 71.6
Test 3 11-Feb-07 5/8" 1,648 4079 1.23 133 71.2
Average 5/8" 1,616 4,065 1.20 132 71.6
Comparative results (test 1 vs. test 2) Comparative results (test 1 vs. test 3)
Oil Oil
Gas Gas
Shishito 2. Gas
Qg DIfference Error
(MMscf/D) (MMscf) (%)
Historic 0.820
-0.01 -0.65
Multiphase meter 0.815
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Fig. 1. The South region of PEMEX E&P is conformed for five
exploitation assets. Fig. 4. Operational window is used for choosing the right
meter in Luna-Pijije-Sen complex in Samaria-Luna asset.
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Fig. 10. Production test in well Shishito 11 obtained with
Fig. 7. Measurement data in real time are transmitted a multiphase meter in March 29 of 2006.
from a PC installed in the mobile meter to the networking
PEMEX E&P.
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Fig. 13. Production test in well Gaucho 1 obtained with a
MPFM meter in December 4 of 2006. This wellstream
behavior can not be detected with traditional tests.
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